What's Your Opinion?

Compiled by Bill O'Neill

QUESTION: When well-known people, such as Don Imus or former N.Y. Yankees' manager Joe Torre and ex Mayor Rudy Giuliani, go public after they've been diagnosed with cancer, does it make you more aware that you should be tested for the same illness.? Why?

"It always does, because when a celebrity comes out, it's like a public announcement. A lot of people look up to stars like Joe Torre." - Michel Sherwin, Canarsie "That actually happened to me. I heard about Giuliani - went out and got tested and got the same procedure, which worked for a little while." - Ron Kindfeldt, Canarsie "Not really. With celebrities, I'm not really attached to them emotionally. But when a relative has some kind of illness, that motivates me to go out and get tested." - Justin Ortiz, Canarsie "Absolutely, just seeing a particular illness of a public figure surely makes me more aware of the condition - and I find out what the implications are for me." - Arthur Raphael, Sheepshead Bay "To me, celebrities are regular people just like anyone else. And you should always get tested. Even the healthiest people have medical conditions." - Daniel Paris, Canarsie "Yes, it does. It makes me more aware because if these famous people can get it, there is a good chance then an 'average' Joe like myself can get it." - Byron Allen, Fort Greene